So, if you watch the news, you know we're in rough states here in Alberta right now. We've got smoke blowing in from the BC forest fires, making our air quality the worst it's been in years. On top of that, there was rain in the forecast for this Saturday. And, on top of that still, I'm feeling quite under the weather right now. Lived in Athabasca for 4.5 years now, and finally got sick enough where I felt I had to see a doctor.
Naturally, with all this going on, I jumped out of bed and said, "I'm going to the city today!"
I had to go to the city. I had a very important reason to go to the city. I had to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Because it opened in #5 last week, I knew that my chances to see it in the theatre would be running out fast.
You've probably seen the commercials for it. Scott Pilgrim is a young 20-something in Toronto who plays in a band, and he meets the girl of his dreams, the bewitching and enigmatic Ramona Flowers. But Ramona's got some serious baggage following her around...seven evil exes, and if Scott and Ramona want to live happily ever after, he must defeat all of them in combat! Which is where the film gets its visual flair. All the fights take the form of super hyperactive video games.
This film makes me wish I played more video games in my youth, because it's so full of references to the 8-bit era of video games that most of the jokes were over my head.
Other than that, I enjoyed the hell out of this film. It's all about that period you go through in your early-20s, when you're finally casting off the last vestiges of your youth and learning to be a grown-up. Needless to say, it brought back happy flashbacks to my college days, as I saw elements of people I knew in pretty much every character on screen. It's all about discovering that yes, she has a past, and if you're a man, and if you love her, you'll get the f--k over it and work things out.
This has been a lean summer for films. Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, and now Scott Pilgrim vs. the World are the only films that had me walking out of the theatre 100% satisfied.
Then I stopped in at HMV. There were lots of DVDs in the discount bin that caught my eye, but I was craving new music. A lot of those digitally remastered Beatles albums that made such a big splash a year ago are now starting to pop up in discount bins, so I snatched up Magical Mystery Tour. This one has more of my favourite Beatles tunes on it. I am the Walrus...Penny Lane...All You Need is Love...Strawberry Fields Forever...so why the heck not? Hmmm...it just occurred that I seem to be limiting myself to the Beatles' soundtracks. First A Hard Day's Night, and now Magical Mystery Tour. I guess that means Help! and Yellow Submarine will be next.
And then, that led to one of the more embarrassing moments in my life. Since HMV's discount bin CDs are usually marked "2/$30" and all that, of course I was buying a second album. A grabbed my second choice, and walked up to the counter. The clerk was this attractive young blond. She rang up the Beatles, and then my second album. She looked at the album cover, looked up at me, and said, "Really? You like Selena Gomez?"
At least I was able to hold my head high and answer her truthfully: "I tend to put the Disney Channel on for background noise, and she gets stuck in my head." Heck, the only reason why I ever sat down and watched a whole episode of the Selena Gomez show is because I discovered her TV mom is Hawkgirl.
So yeah. Selena Gomez. It's unremarkable, bubblegum pop, but it gets stuck in your head.
All in all, worth getting out of the house.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday Morning at the Movies
While flipping around the channels on this Sunday night, I managed to catch the final episode of At the Movies. The majority of the online film community has been shedding a tear for the end of this 35-year franchise and what it did for film. Let me bring you up to speed.
At the Movies started way back in 1975 when Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert started meeting on Chicago's PBS station to review movies. It was such a hit, that in the early -1980s, it went into syndication, first by Tribune Entertianment, and then by Disney. During this era, it was most commonly known as Siskel and Ebert, and brought the world of movies into people's homes.
But, the past decade was not kind to At the Movies. It all began in 1999, when Gene Siskel passed away. Roger Ebert then had a rotating panel of co-hosts until Y2K, when he settled on his fellow Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, and it became Ebert and Roeper At the Movies. It was like that until 2006, when Roger Ebert had to step down due to his failing health. So, it was Roeper and rotating co-hosts until 2008, when Disney decided to take the show in "a new direction." That new direction was critics Ben Lyons and Ben Mankewicz. I never caught it during this era, but reviews were not kind. Last year, they were replaced with critics A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips, but it was too little too late.
Watching that final episode, I was a little sadder than I thought I'd be. I have fond memories of Siskel and Ebert. In the early-1990s, my parents were good church-going folk, but I didn't want to go, finding church to be too boring. Being old enough to be left at home on my own, my family would leave me at home on Sunday morning while they went to church. And I stayed at home and watched Siskel and Ebert.
The early 90s was the perfect time to be watching Siskel and Ebert. I mean, growing up in small-town Alberta, where you rented movies from the local gas station and the closest movie theatres were an hour away, where else was a kid going to be exposed to the entire world of movies out there? And with the rise of independent film in the 1990s, Siskel and Ebert was where I was first exposed to Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarintino, Hayao Miyazaki, and many other fantastic filmmakers.
Hell, my first exposure to Clerks was when the special edition laserdisc came out, and Siskel and Ebert showed the original ending to Clerks on the show and debated whether Kevin Smith was right to cut it or not. (Consensus: he was.) My first exposure to Hayao Miyazaki was their review of My Neighbor Totoro. Ebert loved that film so much. That show gave a lot of films exposure that wouldn't have gotten any.
And now, it's done. Great films will still get exposure, though. My favourite film, The Iron Giant, was brought to my attention, not because of a TV show, but because of all the reviews I read online. Great films still have a way of getting out there. Part of the problem, though, is on the Internet, there's just so many voices to weed through. Not like the old days, when it was just two guys talking about films, and you were eavesdropping through the TV.
At the Movies started way back in 1975 when Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert started meeting on Chicago's PBS station to review movies. It was such a hit, that in the early -1980s, it went into syndication, first by Tribune Entertianment, and then by Disney. During this era, it was most commonly known as Siskel and Ebert, and brought the world of movies into people's homes.
But, the past decade was not kind to At the Movies. It all began in 1999, when Gene Siskel passed away. Roger Ebert then had a rotating panel of co-hosts until Y2K, when he settled on his fellow Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper, and it became Ebert and Roeper At the Movies. It was like that until 2006, when Roger Ebert had to step down due to his failing health. So, it was Roeper and rotating co-hosts until 2008, when Disney decided to take the show in "a new direction." That new direction was critics Ben Lyons and Ben Mankewicz. I never caught it during this era, but reviews were not kind. Last year, they were replaced with critics A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips, but it was too little too late.
Watching that final episode, I was a little sadder than I thought I'd be. I have fond memories of Siskel and Ebert. In the early-1990s, my parents were good church-going folk, but I didn't want to go, finding church to be too boring. Being old enough to be left at home on my own, my family would leave me at home on Sunday morning while they went to church. And I stayed at home and watched Siskel and Ebert.
The early 90s was the perfect time to be watching Siskel and Ebert. I mean, growing up in small-town Alberta, where you rented movies from the local gas station and the closest movie theatres were an hour away, where else was a kid going to be exposed to the entire world of movies out there? And with the rise of independent film in the 1990s, Siskel and Ebert was where I was first exposed to Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarintino, Hayao Miyazaki, and many other fantastic filmmakers.
Hell, my first exposure to Clerks was when the special edition laserdisc came out, and Siskel and Ebert showed the original ending to Clerks on the show and debated whether Kevin Smith was right to cut it or not. (Consensus: he was.) My first exposure to Hayao Miyazaki was their review of My Neighbor Totoro. Ebert loved that film so much. That show gave a lot of films exposure that wouldn't have gotten any.
And now, it's done. Great films will still get exposure, though. My favourite film, The Iron Giant, was brought to my attention, not because of a TV show, but because of all the reviews I read online. Great films still have a way of getting out there. Part of the problem, though, is on the Internet, there's just so many voices to weed through. Not like the old days, when it was just two guys talking about films, and you were eavesdropping through the TV.
Labels:
life,
Musings from the Mall,
TV Stuff
Friday, August 13, 2010
Grindhouse Finally on DVD
Good news, all my fellow fans of Quentin Tarintino and Robert Rodriguez!
Grindhouse is finally coming to DVD in its original, complete, theatrical presentation! Actually, it's only coming to Blu-Ray.
Grindhouse: 2-Disc Collector's Edition will contain ALL of the bonus material on the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of Planet Terror and Death Proof, along with some all-new bonus materials. The new stuff:
In a way, I'm kind of disappointed that this is being released on Blu-Ray. I always thought it was a great way to create a purely theatrical experience, without the need for gimmicks like 3D.
It drops on October 5.
Oh, and some other DVD news, regarding Family Guy's forthcoming scene-for-scene spoof of Return of the Jedi.
As I've blogged previously, they seemed to have trouble coming up with a title. Originally, as a slam towards the Ewoks and all the animatronic characters in Return of the Jedi, they were going to call it Episode VI: The Great Muppet Caper, but they ran into copywrite trouble with the Muppet folks. Then they were going to call it We Have a Bad Feeling About This, after the famous line uttered in ever Star Wars film.
Well, the artwork for the DVD cover has been released, and we've discovered that they've decided to name it after Admiral Akbar's most famous line, which has become quite the Internet catchphrase.
That's right, it's called It's a Trap!.
Don't forget, it hits DVD and Blu-Ray on Dec. 21.
Grindhouse is finally coming to DVD in its original, complete, theatrical presentation! Actually, it's only coming to Blu-Ray.
Grindhouse: 2-Disc Collector's Edition will contain ALL of the bonus material on the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of Planet Terror and Death Proof, along with some all-new bonus materials. The new stuff:
- Rodriguez offers up another installment of his "10 Minute Cooking Schools," which has become a popular staple on all his DVDs.
- All of the intermission cards
- ALL of the fake trailers, including Hobo With a Shotgun, which was only shown in select theatres.
- Brand new extended versions of the fake trailers Don't and Werewolf Women of the SS, complete with running commentaries by their respective directors Edgar Wright and Rob Zombie. (It's long been rumored that Zombie shot an hour's worth of footage for his 3-minute Werewolf Women trailer.)
- "Making of" featurettes for the fake trailers Don't, Werewolf Women of the SS, and Thanksgiving.
- The storyboards and fake movie posters for Don't.
In a way, I'm kind of disappointed that this is being released on Blu-Ray. I always thought it was a great way to create a purely theatrical experience, without the need for gimmicks like 3D.
It drops on October 5.
Oh, and some other DVD news, regarding Family Guy's forthcoming scene-for-scene spoof of Return of the Jedi.
As I've blogged previously, they seemed to have trouble coming up with a title. Originally, as a slam towards the Ewoks and all the animatronic characters in Return of the Jedi, they were going to call it Episode VI: The Great Muppet Caper, but they ran into copywrite trouble with the Muppet folks. Then they were going to call it We Have a Bad Feeling About This, after the famous line uttered in ever Star Wars film.
Well, the artwork for the DVD cover has been released, and we've discovered that they've decided to name it after Admiral Akbar's most famous line, which has become quite the Internet catchphrase.
That's right, it's called It's a Trap!.
Don't forget, it hits DVD and Blu-Ray on Dec. 21.
Labels:
DVD
Sunday, August 08, 2010
DC Showcase on DVD
So, because I've been geeking out about the direct-to-DVD DC comics animated movies, you might have also read me geek out about DC Showcase, their series of animated short films focusing on some of DC`s B- and C-list heroes. To recap, we`ve had:
The Spectre - Focusing on the supernatural spirit of vengeance. Released on Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
Jonah Hex - The legendary gunslinger. Released on the recent Batman: Under the Red Hood.
Green Arrow - The emerald archer takes down his evil counterpart. Will be released on the upcoming Superman/Batman: Apocolypse.
Well, it was just announced that Warner Brothers will be compiling all these animated shorts into their own DVD release, The DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, coming out on November 9!
But that's not all! In order to tempt you to buy all these shorts again, they're including a new short, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam. This short will be 22 minutes long -- twice as long as all the other shorts produced to date!
This short features Black Adam, arch-enemy of Captain Marvel, returning from beyond the stars, and it's up to the combined might of Superman and Captain Marvel to take him down!
For the celebrity voices, we've got:
George Newburn as Superman. Of course, Newburn voiced Superman on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Nice to see him back in the role!
Jerry O'Connell as Captain Marvel. O'Connell of course was one of the kids in Stand By Me, and was most recently seen on the police procedural Crossing Jordan. He also voiced Captain Marvel on an episode of Justice League Unlimited.
Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam. Vosloo played Imhotep the Mummy in the Mummy movies, and was most recently seen as Zartan in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
James Garner as the Wizard Shazam. Garner is an acting legend, and if you don`t know who he is, I weep for you.
It`ll be available in a single-disc DVD version and a single-disc Blu-Ray special edition. For bonus materials on the single-disc DVD, you get 4 bonus episodes of Justice League. On the Blu-Ray, you get those 4 episodes of Justice League, and each short has a running commentary by its writer.
The Spectre - Focusing on the supernatural spirit of vengeance. Released on Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
Jonah Hex - The legendary gunslinger. Released on the recent Batman: Under the Red Hood.
Green Arrow - The emerald archer takes down his evil counterpart. Will be released on the upcoming Superman/Batman: Apocolypse.
Well, it was just announced that Warner Brothers will be compiling all these animated shorts into their own DVD release, The DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, coming out on November 9!
But that's not all! In order to tempt you to buy all these shorts again, they're including a new short, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam. This short will be 22 minutes long -- twice as long as all the other shorts produced to date!
This short features Black Adam, arch-enemy of Captain Marvel, returning from beyond the stars, and it's up to the combined might of Superman and Captain Marvel to take him down!
For the celebrity voices, we've got:
George Newburn as Superman. Of course, Newburn voiced Superman on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Nice to see him back in the role!
Jerry O'Connell as Captain Marvel. O'Connell of course was one of the kids in Stand By Me, and was most recently seen on the police procedural Crossing Jordan. He also voiced Captain Marvel on an episode of Justice League Unlimited.
Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam. Vosloo played Imhotep the Mummy in the Mummy movies, and was most recently seen as Zartan in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
James Garner as the Wizard Shazam. Garner is an acting legend, and if you don`t know who he is, I weep for you.
It`ll be available in a single-disc DVD version and a single-disc Blu-Ray special edition. For bonus materials on the single-disc DVD, you get 4 bonus episodes of Justice League. On the Blu-Ray, you get those 4 episodes of Justice League, and each short has a running commentary by its writer.
Labels:
DVD
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Movie Review -- DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
So, with the DC Comics DTV animated films, they've begun this new thing that I really like. The series is called DC Showcase, and it's a series of animated short films focusing on some B- and C-list heroes from the DCU. The latest one is on the DVD for Batman: Under the Red Hood, which I reviewed yesterday, so let's take a look at it.
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring the voices of Thomas Jane, Linda Hamilton, Jason Marsden, Michael Rooker, and Michelle Trachtenberg.
Backstory: Of course, Jonah Hex was chosen to be the next subject of the DC Showcase films. He's a much-beloved character in the DCU, one of the few Western characters who has stood the test of time...and it ties in with big-screen version of Jonah Hex that hits theatres this summer. What, you didn't see it? Of course you didn't. It sucked and was in theatres for barely two weeks. Does this animated short clear Hex's good name?
Plot: Jonah Hex rides into town, on the trail of an outlaw named Red. Following a lead, he's brought to an unscrupulous prostitute named Madame Lorraine. Will Hex be able to defeat Lorraine, find Red, and collect the bounty?
What I Liked: Again, I am amazed at the big names DC is rounding up to voice these things. We've got the Punisher and Sarah Conner doing voices in a 10-minute short film! Crazy. It's also got a nice sepia-tone look to make it feel more like the old west. It's short, and it's action packed.
What I Didn't Like: Too short!
Final Verdict: I'm really liking this series, guys. Keep it up!
4 Nibs
DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring the voices of Thomas Jane, Linda Hamilton, Jason Marsden, Michael Rooker, and Michelle Trachtenberg.
Backstory: Of course, Jonah Hex was chosen to be the next subject of the DC Showcase films. He's a much-beloved character in the DCU, one of the few Western characters who has stood the test of time...and it ties in with big-screen version of Jonah Hex that hits theatres this summer. What, you didn't see it? Of course you didn't. It sucked and was in theatres for barely two weeks. Does this animated short clear Hex's good name?
Plot: Jonah Hex rides into town, on the trail of an outlaw named Red. Following a lead, he's brought to an unscrupulous prostitute named Madame Lorraine. Will Hex be able to defeat Lorraine, find Red, and collect the bounty?
What I Liked: Again, I am amazed at the big names DC is rounding up to voice these things. We've got the Punisher and Sarah Conner doing voices in a 10-minute short film! Crazy. It's also got a nice sepia-tone look to make it feel more like the old west. It's short, and it's action packed.
What I Didn't Like: Too short!
Final Verdict: I'm really liking this series, guys. Keep it up!
4 Nibs
Labels:
Movie Reviews
Monday, August 02, 2010
Movie Review -- Batman: Under the Red Hood
Does it seem somewhat biased that I review direct-to-video movies in blog entries, and not in big-fancy, coded-in-HTML-from-scratch webpages that I do over at my main site for theatrical films? Just wondering.
Anyway, longtime followers of the blog know I've been a big fan of all the DC Comics DTV animated films that have been coming for a couple of years now. The latest one came out this past week, and I made a special trip into Edmonton just to pick it up. It's time to take a look at....
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Directed by Brandon Vietti
Starring the voices of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Isaacs, Wade Williams, Gary Cole, and Kelly Hu.
Just a little warning, I'm going to get somewhat spoileriffic in this review, but if you've been following the Batman comics for the past five years or so, it's nothing you don't know already.
Backstory: So, a few years back, they ran a storyline in the Batman comics called Under the Hood, which resurrected Jason Todd from the dead. Jason Todd, for those uninitiated, is the Robin that was infamously killed off back in the 1980s. As many a comic book critic said at the time, with the revolving door to the afterworld that exists in comics, it's amazing it took this long to resurrect him. Anyway, the folks in charge of these animated DTV movies thought it would make a good one, so here it is. Fun trivia fact: this is Jason Todd's first appearance in a Batman adaptation!
Plot: Five years after Jason Todd was brutally murdered at the hands of the Joker, a new masked vigilante calling himself the Red Hood makes his appearance known in Gotham City. He's muscling in on the drug lords, taking control of Gotham's underworld, angering Gotham's current drug kingpin, the Black Mask. Of course, this soon catches Batman's attention, and the Black Mask gets desperate enough to go the Joker for help. Batman soon uncovers that the Red Hood is Jason Todd. How is he back from the dead? What is his master plan? And can Batman bring him back from this dark path he's taken?
What I Liked: As always, I love how Warner Brothers is bringing in A-list talent to do the voices. When I first heard that Bruce Greenwood would be voicing Batman (Capt. Pike in the last Star Trek film), I thought, "Dude, that's perfect!" He does have the right gravely growl. Neil Patrick Harris is also very funny as Nightwing. The animation, as always, is perfect. And the mystery really isn't much of a mystery, but it's good enough to keep you guessing.
What I Didn't Like: I have the same problem with this that I had with the last Batman-centred DTV film, Gotham Knight. When it comes to these Batman animated tales, there really is a whole "been there, done that" feeling starting to hang over the entire proceedings. As a friend of mine once commented about Batman, "How many times do we need to see the pearls in slow motion?"
Final Verdict: It's a fairly entertaining Batman yarn, but come on DC. Give us the Flash. Give us another Wonder Woman. Give Batman a break.
3 Nibs
Bonus Features: Ooo, this was my first DC DTV animated film on Blu-Ray! For bonus features, you get a featurette on this history of the first Robin, Dick Grayson, a featurette on the history of the second Robin, Jason Todd, a preview of the next film, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, 4 bonus episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, and the latest in their series of DC Showcase animated shorts, this one focusing on Jonah Hex. I'll review that short...in my next blog entry!
Anyway, longtime followers of the blog know I've been a big fan of all the DC Comics DTV animated films that have been coming for a couple of years now. The latest one came out this past week, and I made a special trip into Edmonton just to pick it up. It's time to take a look at....
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Directed by Brandon Vietti
Starring the voices of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, John DiMaggio, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Isaacs, Wade Williams, Gary Cole, and Kelly Hu.
Just a little warning, I'm going to get somewhat spoileriffic in this review, but if you've been following the Batman comics for the past five years or so, it's nothing you don't know already.
Backstory: So, a few years back, they ran a storyline in the Batman comics called Under the Hood, which resurrected Jason Todd from the dead. Jason Todd, for those uninitiated, is the Robin that was infamously killed off back in the 1980s. As many a comic book critic said at the time, with the revolving door to the afterworld that exists in comics, it's amazing it took this long to resurrect him. Anyway, the folks in charge of these animated DTV movies thought it would make a good one, so here it is. Fun trivia fact: this is Jason Todd's first appearance in a Batman adaptation!
Plot: Five years after Jason Todd was brutally murdered at the hands of the Joker, a new masked vigilante calling himself the Red Hood makes his appearance known in Gotham City. He's muscling in on the drug lords, taking control of Gotham's underworld, angering Gotham's current drug kingpin, the Black Mask. Of course, this soon catches Batman's attention, and the Black Mask gets desperate enough to go the Joker for help. Batman soon uncovers that the Red Hood is Jason Todd. How is he back from the dead? What is his master plan? And can Batman bring him back from this dark path he's taken?
What I Liked: As always, I love how Warner Brothers is bringing in A-list talent to do the voices. When I first heard that Bruce Greenwood would be voicing Batman (Capt. Pike in the last Star Trek film), I thought, "Dude, that's perfect!" He does have the right gravely growl. Neil Patrick Harris is also very funny as Nightwing. The animation, as always, is perfect. And the mystery really isn't much of a mystery, but it's good enough to keep you guessing.
What I Didn't Like: I have the same problem with this that I had with the last Batman-centred DTV film, Gotham Knight. When it comes to these Batman animated tales, there really is a whole "been there, done that" feeling starting to hang over the entire proceedings. As a friend of mine once commented about Batman, "How many times do we need to see the pearls in slow motion?"
Final Verdict: It's a fairly entertaining Batman yarn, but come on DC. Give us the Flash. Give us another Wonder Woman. Give Batman a break.
3 Nibs
Bonus Features: Ooo, this was my first DC DTV animated film on Blu-Ray! For bonus features, you get a featurette on this history of the first Robin, Dick Grayson, a featurette on the history of the second Robin, Jason Todd, a preview of the next film, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, 4 bonus episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, and the latest in their series of DC Showcase animated shorts, this one focusing on Jonah Hex. I'll review that short...in my next blog entry!
Labels:
Movie Reviews
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Latest Targ's Up!
It's that time of year again! It's the season finale of U62: The Targ.
Something I started a few years ago that I decided to stick with, and that is every summer, usually the month of August, I take some time off from doing U62: The Targ. This gives me time to collect my thoughts, decided whether I want to take it in a new direction, or just give it up all together.
So, I've got for you Episode 3.40: The End...?, in which I ponder most of what I just outlined above, and give my thoughts on what just may be the next big social networking trend.
Enjoy the show, and I'll see you in September!
Click here to go download it!
Head here to subscribe in iTunes!
U62: The Targ on Facebook
Labels:
U62: The Targ
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Inception Review and the Latest Social Network
First, the housekeeping. My latest movie review is up! Saw Inception last week, and finally jotted down my review.
Click here to read it.
And now, the latest social networking trend. If the media hype is to believed, the next big social networking trend is Empire Avenue. And by "the media hype," I mean this one story I saw on the news last night. Anyway, I thought I would sign up for it today, because if it truly is going to be the next big thing, I wanted to be sure to nab my "chaosinabox" handle before someone else beat me to it.
What it is is a social networking site based on the stock market. Every time you do something, you earn money. You don't "make friends," you "buy shares" in other people. The more stuff you do online, and more shares people buy in you, the greater your "influence."
I've only been on for a few hours, and I instantly dislike it. The stock market gimmick is a little too complicated. Essentially, what they've done is find a way to track your online activity, and assign a worth to it. This network seems completely geared to advertisers, and showing off how many eyeballs the site attracts through "influence."
Actually, the whole thing reminds me of that recent South Park episode, where Cartman did a whole video podcast on how to get more friends on Facebook and which friends will increase your popularity on Facebook. Playing around on Empire Avenue, I've already seen a few video podcasts like that. "Buy this person to increase your worth!"
I don't know. It's the same reaction I've had to Facebook and Twitter when I first started. I'll play with it for a few months, and if I like it, I'll stick around.
So, I guess I should encourage all of you to buy Chaos in a Box!
Oh, and I have to blog this verification code so my blog entries start adding to my worth:
EAVB_RWQVAKICGK
Click here to read it.
And now, the latest social networking trend. If the media hype is to believed, the next big social networking trend is Empire Avenue. And by "the media hype," I mean this one story I saw on the news last night. Anyway, I thought I would sign up for it today, because if it truly is going to be the next big thing, I wanted to be sure to nab my "chaosinabox" handle before someone else beat me to it.
What it is is a social networking site based on the stock market. Every time you do something, you earn money. You don't "make friends," you "buy shares" in other people. The more stuff you do online, and more shares people buy in you, the greater your "influence."
I've only been on for a few hours, and I instantly dislike it. The stock market gimmick is a little too complicated. Essentially, what they've done is find a way to track your online activity, and assign a worth to it. This network seems completely geared to advertisers, and showing off how many eyeballs the site attracts through "influence."
Actually, the whole thing reminds me of that recent South Park episode, where Cartman did a whole video podcast on how to get more friends on Facebook and which friends will increase your popularity on Facebook. Playing around on Empire Avenue, I've already seen a few video podcasts like that. "Buy this person to increase your worth!"
I don't know. It's the same reaction I've had to Facebook and Twitter when I first started. I'll play with it for a few months, and if I like it, I'll stick around.
So, I guess I should encourage all of you to buy Chaos in a Box!
Oh, and I have to blog this verification code so my blog entries start adding to my worth:
EAVB_RWQVAKICGK
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Smarter Than the Average Bear
Today's pointless remake, a live-action movie version of Yogi Bear.
Why did the world need a live-action Yogi Bear? Why, I ask?
For our voice cast, we've got the legendary Dan Aykroyd as Yogi, pop icon Justin Timberlake as Boo Boo, and "I'm not aware of her work" Christine Taylor as Cindy Bear.
For the live-action cast, we've got the star of my Dad's favourite TV show, Ed, Tom Cavanaugh as Ranger Smith, and, "Sh! Don't tell anyone I have a crush on her" Anna Ferris as a wildlife documentary filmmaker who's come to Jellystone to film Yogi.
The plot apparently has something to do with evil industrialists wanting to close down Jellystone Park, so Yogi, Boo Boo and Ranger Smith band together to save the Park.
Computer animator Eric Brevig is the director. It comes out this Christmas.
Oh, look. A trailer.
Yeah, the character of Yogi was based on Art Carney, but Aykroyd seems to be going more for Rodney Dangerfield. Here's a thought: why didn't Aykroyd do Aykroyd?
Remember when Aykroyd was cool? Yeah, those days are gone.
Why did the world need a live-action Yogi Bear? Why, I ask?
For our voice cast, we've got the legendary Dan Aykroyd as Yogi, pop icon Justin Timberlake as Boo Boo, and "I'm not aware of her work" Christine Taylor as Cindy Bear.
For the live-action cast, we've got the star of my Dad's favourite TV show, Ed, Tom Cavanaugh as Ranger Smith, and, "Sh! Don't tell anyone I have a crush on her" Anna Ferris as a wildlife documentary filmmaker who's come to Jellystone to film Yogi.
The plot apparently has something to do with evil industrialists wanting to close down Jellystone Park, so Yogi, Boo Boo and Ranger Smith band together to save the Park.
Computer animator Eric Brevig is the director. It comes out this Christmas.
Oh, look. A trailer.
Yeah, the character of Yogi was based on Art Carney, but Aykroyd seems to be going more for Rodney Dangerfield. Here's a thought: why didn't Aykroyd do Aykroyd?
Remember when Aykroyd was cool? Yeah, those days are gone.
Labels:
Movie stuff,
The Trailer Park
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Latest Targ's Up!
It's Sunday! That means it's time for a new episode of U62: The Targ!
I'm just a seething bundle of anger this week, and I show it in Episode 3.39: Angry Rant #642. I go off on the current Edmonton Oilers new arena debate, I return to the bane of my 12-year old self, and I really, really hope that Pixar doesn't take a dark turn.
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U62: The Targ
Thursday, July 22, 2010
NEW TRON LEGACY TRAILER!!!
The only movie I'm excited about this year, and I can't frakkin' WAIT!!
No longer content with just light cycles...is that a light jet at the end? SO AWESOME!!
In other Disney news today, it was announced that Guillermo del Toro, directed of the Hellboy films and the critically acclaimed Pan's Labrynth, will be directed a reboot of The Haunted Mansion, based upon the classic Disneyland ride. Del Toro says that his version will not be a comedy like the first film, and play up more of the horror aspects of the ride. Oh, and it'll be filmed in 3D.
When I told my friends of this they said, "Reboot? First film? Disney already did a Haunted Mansion film?" Yes, they did. 2003. Starring Eddie Murphy. It was a comedy. It flopped, and wasn't loved by the critics.
No longer content with just light cycles...is that a light jet at the end? SO AWESOME!!
In other Disney news today, it was announced that Guillermo del Toro, directed of the Hellboy films and the critically acclaimed Pan's Labrynth, will be directed a reboot of The Haunted Mansion, based upon the classic Disneyland ride. Del Toro says that his version will not be a comedy like the first film, and play up more of the horror aspects of the ride. Oh, and it'll be filmed in 3D.
When I told my friends of this they said, "Reboot? First film? Disney already did a Haunted Mansion film?" Yes, they did. 2003. Starring Eddie Murphy. It was a comedy. It flopped, and wasn't loved by the critics.
Labels:
Movie stuff,
The Trailer Park
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Latest Targ's Up!
Time to hit you with an all-new episode of U62: The Targ!
Whenever I'm unsure as to what to do in an episode, my first instinct is to name it after nonsense words. Hence, Episode 3.38: Snoozle Woozle. I'm spending my money and playing the lotto, I mourn the end of James Bond, and I even tell you my ratings. Yes, I do keep track of who actually listens to this, and I find the numbers startling.
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U62: The Targ
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
More Robot Chicken and Family Guy Star Wars Spoofs
Well, Family Guy and Robot Chicken have announced the latest installments in their series of Star Wars spoofs.
First up, we have Robot Chicken Star Wars: Episode III, coming on December 12. Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich say that this one will have more of a linear storyline than their other specials, and that it'll tell the entire Star Wars saga from the villains' point of view.
New celebrity voices include Community star Donald Glover, Family Guy and Cleveland Show writer/voice actor Mike Henry, current teen heartthrob Zak Efron as Anakin Skywalker, and Anthony Daniels returning to the role that made him famous, C-3P0.
Returning celebrity voices include Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, Breckin Meyer, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane as Emperor Palpatine.
It airs on December 12.
And speaking of Seth MacFarlane and Family Guy, Family Guy's scene-for-scene spoof of Return of the Jedi will be hitting DVD and Blu-Ray on December 21.
For celebrity guest voices in this one, we've got Family Guy regular Adam West, original Star Wars star Carrie Fisher (she's become a regular on the Family Guy cast and they've been trying to get her in one of these Star Wars specials since the first one), Rush Limbaugh will be voicing the Sarlaac, and, apparently, they wind up doing some kind of crossover with Star Trek: The Next Generation and Patrick Stewart and Michael Dorn will be back as Capt. Picard and Worf.
No word on the title of this one. They were going to call it We Have a Bad Feeling About This, but the articles today announcing the special guest voices say that it's "currently untitled." Originally, because of all the animatronic characters that pop up in ROTJ, they wanted to call it Episode VI: The Great Muppet Caper, but they actually got into trouble from the Muppet folks over that. I guess will know the title when they show their 10-minute sneak peak at the San Diego ComicCon in two weeks.
First up, we have Robot Chicken Star Wars: Episode III, coming on December 12. Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich say that this one will have more of a linear storyline than their other specials, and that it'll tell the entire Star Wars saga from the villains' point of view.
New celebrity voices include Community star Donald Glover, Family Guy and Cleveland Show writer/voice actor Mike Henry, current teen heartthrob Zak Efron as Anakin Skywalker, and Anthony Daniels returning to the role that made him famous, C-3P0.
Returning celebrity voices include Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, Breckin Meyer, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane as Emperor Palpatine.
It airs on December 12.
And speaking of Seth MacFarlane and Family Guy, Family Guy's scene-for-scene spoof of Return of the Jedi will be hitting DVD and Blu-Ray on December 21.
For celebrity guest voices in this one, we've got Family Guy regular Adam West, original Star Wars star Carrie Fisher (she's become a regular on the Family Guy cast and they've been trying to get her in one of these Star Wars specials since the first one), Rush Limbaugh will be voicing the Sarlaac, and, apparently, they wind up doing some kind of crossover with Star Trek: The Next Generation and Patrick Stewart and Michael Dorn will be back as Capt. Picard and Worf.
No word on the title of this one. They were going to call it We Have a Bad Feeling About This, but the articles today announcing the special guest voices say that it's "currently untitled." Originally, because of all the animatronic characters that pop up in ROTJ, they wanted to call it Episode VI: The Great Muppet Caper, but they actually got into trouble from the Muppet folks over that. I guess will know the title when they show their 10-minute sneak peak at the San Diego ComicCon in two weeks.
Monday, July 12, 2010
DVD Review -- G.I. Joe: Resolute
Well, I've always enjoyed reviewing the straight-to-DVD movies I pick up right here on my blog. I finally got my hands on one I've been keeping my eyes open for, and I just finished watching it. So, it's time for my thoughts on....
G.I. Joe: Resolute
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring the voices of Charles Adler, Steve Blum, Grey DeLisle, and Eric Bauza.
Backstory: Last year, Hasbro decided to launch an all-new G.I. Joe cartoon to tie in with the new live-action movies. But, to produce it, they decided to follow the model of the original Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon: episodes would be just 5 minutes long, telling an over-reaching story arc, and the episodes would be shown on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Comic book legend Warren Ellis was hired to write it. It premiered on Adult Swim in the spring of 2009, and was edited together into a DTV movie and released just in time for Christmas last year. Yesterday, I finally found a copy!
Plot: In their most coordinated strike ever, COBRA cripples G.I. Joe HQ, takes command of several instillations all around the world, and destroys Moscow in a show of their might. Cobra Commander issues his ultimatum: turn control of the entire world over to him in 24 hours, or he'll use his new weapon to start wiping countries off the face of the Earth. G.I. Joe has 24 hours to unlock the secrets of COBRA's new WMD, free the instillations that our powering it, and apprehend Cobra Commander...with extreme prejudice.
What I Liked: There is blood. This is real war. Joes are killed, Cobra Vipers are mercilessly gunned down, and Cobra Commander kills all who oppose him. The stakes are high, and it moves along at a rather quick pace.
What I Didn't Like: The character development does take a back seat to the action, so we really don't get to know these new incarnations of the Joes. And with such a small voice cast, there is some overlap in the voices and the characters, which does get a tad annoying.
Final Verdict: A wonderful continuation of the original, 5-part mini-series that launched the original cartoons, if only it being for more grown-up tastes.
3 Nibs
Bonus Features: For DVD bonus features, you get a Q&A with the film's creators, the file cards for the Joes in the film, the teaser episode "Now You Know," and storyboards for the production.
G.I. Joe: Resolute
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
Starring the voices of Charles Adler, Steve Blum, Grey DeLisle, and Eric Bauza.
Backstory: Last year, Hasbro decided to launch an all-new G.I. Joe cartoon to tie in with the new live-action movies. But, to produce it, they decided to follow the model of the original Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon: episodes would be just 5 minutes long, telling an over-reaching story arc, and the episodes would be shown on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Comic book legend Warren Ellis was hired to write it. It premiered on Adult Swim in the spring of 2009, and was edited together into a DTV movie and released just in time for Christmas last year. Yesterday, I finally found a copy!
Plot: In their most coordinated strike ever, COBRA cripples G.I. Joe HQ, takes command of several instillations all around the world, and destroys Moscow in a show of their might. Cobra Commander issues his ultimatum: turn control of the entire world over to him in 24 hours, or he'll use his new weapon to start wiping countries off the face of the Earth. G.I. Joe has 24 hours to unlock the secrets of COBRA's new WMD, free the instillations that our powering it, and apprehend Cobra Commander...with extreme prejudice.
What I Liked: There is blood. This is real war. Joes are killed, Cobra Vipers are mercilessly gunned down, and Cobra Commander kills all who oppose him. The stakes are high, and it moves along at a rather quick pace.
What I Didn't Like: The character development does take a back seat to the action, so we really don't get to know these new incarnations of the Joes. And with such a small voice cast, there is some overlap in the voices and the characters, which does get a tad annoying.
Final Verdict: A wonderful continuation of the original, 5-part mini-series that launched the original cartoons, if only it being for more grown-up tastes.
3 Nibs
Bonus Features: For DVD bonus features, you get a Q&A with the film's creators, the file cards for the Joes in the film, the teaser episode "Now You Know," and storyboards for the production.
Labels:
Movie Reviews
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Remake Reviews!
Well, recently, I was blogging about my birthday movies. This year, I did my first ever birthday movie double-features. I saw BOTH The Karate Kid and The A-Team!
Click here to read my reviews!
Click here to read my reviews!
Labels:
Movie Reviews
Latest Targ's Up!
And I'm back after a brief break with a brand new episode of U62: The Targ!
Lots of good stuff happened and I have to tell you all about it. And I do, in Episode 3.37: In a Row?. The topics this week are my 33rd birthday, the latest round of Tron Legacy viral marketing, and the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future.
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U62: The Targ
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Birthday Movies
So, yesterday was my birthday. I have a small tradition. On my birthday, I go see a movie. I just love movies and can't think of a better way to celebrate.
I remember every movie I've seen on my birthday ever since I started doing this. I'm getting old, and my memory is starting to do funny things, so I find it best to sit down and jot down the list when I have a moment of lucidity. So, the list:
1988 - Short Circuit 2
1989 - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
1990 - Back to the Future Part III
1991 - The Rocketeer
1992 - Batman Returns
1993 - Jurassic Park
1994 - The Flintstones
1995 - 18th Birthday, so I forwent the movie to do the whole "go to the bar for the first time" thing
1996 - Independence Day
1997 - Canceled. Summer job
1998 - Mulan
1999 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
2000 - Shaft
2001 - Canceled. Family function
2002 - Men in Black II
2003 - Canceled. Illness
2004 - Fahrenheit 9/11
2005 - Herbie: Fully Loaded
2006 - Superman Returns
2007 - Transformers
2008 - WALL-E
2009 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
As for 2010, I'll probably be seeing my birthday movie this weekend. Haven't decided what it'll be yet. There's two classics from my childhood remade for the big screen: The Karate Kid and The A-Team. I'm mildly curious about both. Predators looks somewhat good. I wanted to see The Last Airbender, because I liked the cartoon, but the reviews have been very bad. It'll probably be The A-Team.
I remember every movie I've seen on my birthday ever since I started doing this. I'm getting old, and my memory is starting to do funny things, so I find it best to sit down and jot down the list when I have a moment of lucidity. So, the list:
1988 - Short Circuit 2
1989 - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
1990 - Back to the Future Part III
1991 - The Rocketeer
1992 - Batman Returns
1993 - Jurassic Park
1994 - The Flintstones
1995 - 18th Birthday, so I forwent the movie to do the whole "go to the bar for the first time" thing
1996 - Independence Day
1997 - Canceled. Summer job
1998 - Mulan
1999 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
2000 - Shaft
2001 - Canceled. Family function
2002 - Men in Black II
2003 - Canceled. Illness
2004 - Fahrenheit 9/11
2005 - Herbie: Fully Loaded
2006 - Superman Returns
2007 - Transformers
2008 - WALL-E
2009 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
As for 2010, I'll probably be seeing my birthday movie this weekend. Haven't decided what it'll be yet. There's two classics from my childhood remade for the big screen: The Karate Kid and The A-Team. I'm mildly curious about both. Predators looks somewhat good. I wanted to see The Last Airbender, because I liked the cartoon, but the reviews have been very bad. It'll probably be The A-Team.
Labels:
life,
Movie stuff
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Wonder Woman's Makeover
So, there's been lots of hype and hullabaloo the past few days over Wonder Woman's new costume.
You'd think the way people are acting, this is the first time a superhero has donned a new costume. It's one of those things where everyone expects me to have an opinion, but I really don't, so I guess I'll say something anyway.
Again, I don't understand why this became so newsworthy. One of the comic book reviewers at Mania.com was quick to point why this really isn't news. Essentially, when it comes to comics, the status quo is never shaken up for long. Inside a year, they'll probably hit the great galactic reset button and everything will be back to normal. Hell, three years ago, as part of DC's whole "One Year Later" storyline, Wonder Woman lost her powers, donned a new costume, and even a new identity. No major media coverage then. Why now?
What I find funny is that everyone's focused on the new costume that they've hardly mentioned her dramaticialy revamped origin story to go along with it. In her original origin, the Amazons have lived in peace, tranquility, and immortality on the hidden island of Paradise Island. With the ever-expanding world, it was known that their island would soon be discovered, so Wonder Woman was sent out into the world as emissary and ambassador. In her new origin, Paradise Island was wiped out by dark forces when she was 3 years old, and she's been in hiding ever since, raised by the handmaidens of the queen of the Amazons.
Of course, it turns that this destruction of Paradise Island was caused by altering the timeline through time-travel wackiness. So, there you go. The ending has already been written. At the conclusion of this adventure, things will be put back to normal, and the original costume will be back.
Nothing's ever a permanent change in comic books. As the old industry saying goes, "No one stays dead except Uncle Ben."
Now, that being said, I have been enjoying the mainstream exposure Wonder Woman has been getting because of this. She's one of the big 3 of DC Comics, right there alongside Batman and Superman, but she still just isn't quite as well-known as those two. We're still crying for a kick-ass live-action Wonder Woman movie to be made. We're getting close, though. As I've said to many others, you really should seek out that straight-to-DVD Wonder Woman animated movie that came out last year. It's the best of these direct-to-DVD movies that DC has been putting out. Seriously. Just give me a live-action movie version of this and I'd be happy.
Again, I don't understand why this became so newsworthy. One of the comic book reviewers at Mania.com was quick to point why this really isn't news. Essentially, when it comes to comics, the status quo is never shaken up for long. Inside a year, they'll probably hit the great galactic reset button and everything will be back to normal. Hell, three years ago, as part of DC's whole "One Year Later" storyline, Wonder Woman lost her powers, donned a new costume, and even a new identity. No major media coverage then. Why now?
What I find funny is that everyone's focused on the new costume that they've hardly mentioned her dramaticialy revamped origin story to go along with it. In her original origin, the Amazons have lived in peace, tranquility, and immortality on the hidden island of Paradise Island. With the ever-expanding world, it was known that their island would soon be discovered, so Wonder Woman was sent out into the world as emissary and ambassador. In her new origin, Paradise Island was wiped out by dark forces when she was 3 years old, and she's been in hiding ever since, raised by the handmaidens of the queen of the Amazons.
Of course, it turns that this destruction of Paradise Island was caused by altering the timeline through time-travel wackiness. So, there you go. The ending has already been written. At the conclusion of this adventure, things will be put back to normal, and the original costume will be back.
Nothing's ever a permanent change in comic books. As the old industry saying goes, "No one stays dead except Uncle Ben."
Now, that being said, I have been enjoying the mainstream exposure Wonder Woman has been getting because of this. She's one of the big 3 of DC Comics, right there alongside Batman and Superman, but she still just isn't quite as well-known as those two. We're still crying for a kick-ass live-action Wonder Woman movie to be made. We're getting close, though. As I've said to many others, you really should seek out that straight-to-DVD Wonder Woman animated movie that came out last year. It's the best of these direct-to-DVD movies that DC has been putting out. Seriously. Just give me a live-action movie version of this and I'd be happy.
Labels:
Opinions I Should Keep to Myself
Monday, July 05, 2010
More on Superman/Batman: Apocolypse
So, hey, remember last week when I was telling you about the new straight-to-DVD animated movie Superman/Batman: Apocalypse?
Hey, the Internet is magic, how about if I make this text link to the relevant blog entry? Now I don't have to retype everything. Yay, HTML!
So, we've got all kinds of new information on it that I need to pass along.
First up, more of the big celebrity voice cast. Andre Braugher does the voice of our main villain, the New God warlord Darkseid. And Ed Asner reprises his Superman: The Animated Series role of Darkseid's drill sergeant, Granny Goodness.
DC/Warner Brothers have also begun this thing called DC Showcase, where each of these direct-to-DVD movies includes a 10-minute short film highlighting a B-list hero in the DC Universe. On the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse DVD, we'll be treated to a short featuring the adventures of Green Arrow. Written by veteran comic book and animation writer Greg Weisman, we follow the adventures of Oliver Queen as he heads to the airport to pick up his girlfriend, only to have to suit up and do battle with the evil archer Merlyn the Magnificent who's there to assassinate a visiting princess. Neil McDonough does the voice of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, and Malcolm McDowell does the voice of Merlyn.
Anyway, bonus stuff! As has become the trend, it's available in the 3 versions: single-disc, movie-only edition, 2-disc special edition, and Blu-Ray.
On the 2-disc special edition, you get:
Don't forget, the next DTV animated film, Batman: Under the Red Hood, comes out on July 27.
Hey, the Internet is magic, how about if I make this text link to the relevant blog entry? Now I don't have to retype everything. Yay, HTML!
So, we've got all kinds of new information on it that I need to pass along.
First up, more of the big celebrity voice cast. Andre Braugher does the voice of our main villain, the New God warlord Darkseid. And Ed Asner reprises his Superman: The Animated Series role of Darkseid's drill sergeant, Granny Goodness.
DC/Warner Brothers have also begun this thing called DC Showcase, where each of these direct-to-DVD movies includes a 10-minute short film highlighting a B-list hero in the DC Universe. On the Superman/Batman: Apocalypse DVD, we'll be treated to a short featuring the adventures of Green Arrow. Written by veteran comic book and animation writer Greg Weisman, we follow the adventures of Oliver Queen as he heads to the airport to pick up his girlfriend, only to have to suit up and do battle with the evil archer Merlyn the Magnificent who's there to assassinate a visiting princess. Neil McDonough does the voice of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, and Malcolm McDowell does the voice of Merlyn.
Anyway, bonus stuff! As has become the trend, it's available in the 3 versions: single-disc, movie-only edition, 2-disc special edition, and Blu-Ray.
On the 2-disc special edition, you get:
- A sneak peak at the next DTV animated film. (Rumored to be a Green Lantern one, to tie in with next year's live-action movie)
- A featurette on the history of Supergirl in the comics.
- 2 bonus episodes of The New Batman/Superman Adventures
- A featurette on the New Gods, focusing on the villainous Darkseid
- 2 featurettes on the New Gods superheroes Orion and Mr. Miracle
- 2 MORE bonus episodes of The New Batman/Superman Adventures
Don't forget, the next DTV animated film, Batman: Under the Red Hood, comes out on July 27.
Labels:
DVD
Sunday, July 04, 2010
The New Spider-Man Is....
Well, one of the questions that dominated pop culture for the past few months is who will be the new Spider-Man?
Let me bring you up to speed. After months of negotiations, Sony Studios (the movie company that makes the Spider-Man films) and Sam Raimi (director of the first three Spider-Man films) couldn't agree on a direction for Spider-Man 4. So, Sony dismissed Raimi from the film and decided to reboot the franchise. Three films in, and we're starting over at #1.
Mark Webb, who directed last year's hit indie rom-com (500) Days of Summer, was given the nod to direct the reboot. The decision was made to base it on the critically acclaimed, wildly popular reboot Ultimate Spider-Man, and a release date of July 2012 was set.
But we still needed a new Peter Parker.
After auditioning pretty much anyone under 30 in Hollywood, it was announced on Canada Day that they settled on this guy...Andrew Garfield.
Garfield is still rather new to the biz...he was in the film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnasus and he'll be seen this fall in the biopic on Facebook's creators, The Social Network.
You know, I'm pretty much on board for anything with this reboot, just as long as they don't make us sit through the origin story again. That first film is still fresh in people's minds...we don't need to see that radioactive spider bite again.
Let me bring you up to speed. After months of negotiations, Sony Studios (the movie company that makes the Spider-Man films) and Sam Raimi (director of the first three Spider-Man films) couldn't agree on a direction for Spider-Man 4. So, Sony dismissed Raimi from the film and decided to reboot the franchise. Three films in, and we're starting over at #1.
Mark Webb, who directed last year's hit indie rom-com (500) Days of Summer, was given the nod to direct the reboot. The decision was made to base it on the critically acclaimed, wildly popular reboot Ultimate Spider-Man, and a release date of July 2012 was set.
But we still needed a new Peter Parker.
After auditioning pretty much anyone under 30 in Hollywood, it was announced on Canada Day that they settled on this guy...Andrew Garfield.
Garfield is still rather new to the biz...he was in the film The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnasus and he'll be seen this fall in the biopic on Facebook's creators, The Social Network.
You know, I'm pretty much on board for anything with this reboot, just as long as they don't make us sit through the origin story again. That first film is still fresh in people's minds...we don't need to see that radioactive spider bite again.
Labels:
Movie stuff
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